AI novel translation cost calculator

Estimate the cost of releasing your own novel in another language. The estimate includes glossary context and retries, which are easy to miss when you price a long book.

Prices shown are examples. Enter your provider’s rates.

Context and retries

Assumes 1.35 source tokens and 1.5 output tokens per word, before overhead. Character-based languages can differ substantially.

Plan a translation release of your novel

Count the complete source

Use the word count for every volume and chapter you plan to translate. If your source uses characters rather than spaced words, convert the count with a method that matches the source language and model tokenizer.

A translation request also carries instructions, glossary terms, and context from earlier chapters. The context overhead field adds room for that material.

Use prices from the model provider

Model companies normally publish separate prices for input and output tokens. Copy those prices into the calculator. The values shown when the page opens are examples, not a current quote from any provider.

Retries increase both input and output use. A difficult chapter, broken format, or glossary correction can require another run, so a zero retry estimate is often too narrow for planning.

Budget the work outside the model

The result covers model usage only. A finished translation can also require glossary preparation, source cleanup, quality review, editing, and EPUB formatting.

Keep those tasks separate in your budget. This makes it easier to compare a low model price with a product that includes chapter management, review tools, and export support.

Questions

Why would an author translate their own novel?

A translation release lets you test another market without waiting for a publisher. Machine translation is a starting draft: budget for glossary work and a careful editing pass, and publish only a version you are confident in.

Are the example model prices current?

No. Replace them with the current input and output prices from the provider you plan to use.

Why are output tokens higher than the word count?

Words and tokens are different units. English text often uses more than one token for some words, punctuation, and formatting. The calculator uses a planning estimate, not an exact tokenizer.

Does this include human review?

No. It estimates model usage. Add editing, source checks, glossary work, and final book preparation to your project budget.

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